Visiting a Grand Prix is an unforgettable expertise for an F1 fan, however attending all 24 races in a season – inside a specified finances and round a full-time job – might appear to be one thing of an unattainable dream. One Formulation 1 fanatic, nevertheless, is embarking on this very problem.
British fan Brandon Burgess kickstarted his mission to go to each Grand Prix within the 2025 season when the marketing campaign bought underway in Australia again in March, with the 29-year-old setting a finances of £20,000 for the entire season in addition to aiming to finish the duty utilizing simply his 28 days of annual depart from his job in London.
Alongside the way in which, he has been charting his journey on-line by way of social media underneath his ‘Full Time Formula’ account, capturing his experiences at every race weekend while additionally sharing finances updates, journey insights and extra with fellow followers.
“It is at all times been my dream to start out off with,” Burgess tells F1.com of his problem as we catch up throughout his newest cease on the Italian Grand Prix. “I at all times thought I might need to be retired or need to win the lottery [to do it].
“After which summer time final 12 months, I began to assume, ‘I’ve bought a free 12 months in 2025 – might or not it’s attainable if I used all of my vacation at my job, and in addition use an enormous chunk of my financial savings?’ Then it was in all probability September time the place I made a decision to drag the set off and say, ‘Yeah, let’s do it’. That is once I began trying issues up, and ever since it has been wonderful.”
When requested simply how a lot planning went into such a feat, Burgess laughs: “A lot! Just about between September and January, I might say nearly each night and weekend I used to be doing a little type of planning, whether or not or not it’s resorts, flights, tickets, and even logistics.
“I attempted to do as a lot of it as I might earlier than the season began as a result of clearly, as soon as the season is underway, it is fairly chaotic and since I am making movies and documenting all of it as properly, I don’t actually have an enormous period of time. Nevertheless it’s an excellent few months, that is for certain.”
Burgess’ ardour for Formulation 1 began at a younger age, having been following the game since he was “two or three years outdated”. He remembers: “I used to like Michael Schumacher out entrance within the purple Ferrari. I used to decorate up in his overalls as a child. Schumacher was primarily my hero.
“I’ve liked F1 ever since I used to be a child and I nonetheless do now. It is simply the adrenaline of it, the thrill of the racing, the noise of the vehicles… Motorsport is simply by far and away my favorite sport, and I am very fortunate to be doing what I am doing this 12 months.”
Having now accomplished two-thirds of his problem, there was loads of on-track motion for Burgess to take pleasure in thus far. However, alongside this, he admits that considered one of his key highlights has been getting to attach with fellow followers of the game.
“To be trustworthy, the largest spotlight has been assembly different F1 followers,” he responds. “As a result of I have been placing all of it on-line and gained a little bit of a following, it is meant that different folks have reached out and stated, ‘I will this race’ or ‘I will this race’.
“I’ve travelled to loads of them solo, so it is meant that the races I’ve travelled to solo, I’ve met up with different F1 followers, spent the day with them, chatted to them briefly. I nonetheless speak to them now, lots of people I’ve met, which is actually, very nice and possibly my favorite half.”
And in terms of the primary challenges of the duty, Burgess admits that “simply attempting to maintain awake at occasions” is considered one of them, including: “The relentless nature of journey, being on the monitor, then as quickly as I get again residence, logging on for my 9 to 5, after which after within the evenings making movies in regards to the experiences as properly – it is type of like there’s not likely a time to relaxation this 12 months.
“However I would not change it for the world. I’ve completely liked it, and I am very fortunate that individuals on-line appear to be having fun with the content material as a result of it is meant that I’ve skilled stuff like this right now, so I am actually grateful for that.”
One other activity has been adapting to the altering climate situations posed by the calendar’s totally different places. As demonstrated in a recent social media video showing what he packs for a Grand Prix, Burgess admits that he must be ready for all eventualities – however concedes that an unpredictable forecast may deliver with it some thrilling moments on monitor.
“That is positively been one of many challenges – it has been loads of checking the climate forecast,” he explains as we communicate on a scorching day on the Italian Grand Prix. “There’s been a poncho wanted at just a few races. It is positively extra enjoyable when it is like it’s right now in Monza, good and sunny.
“However the rain has brought about some actually thrilling races this 12 months – like Silverstone when it rained, it ended up being a incredible race, so a little bit of blended situations will also be loads of enjoyable.”
With eight extra races remaining, Burgess is worked up to have his mother and father be a part of him in Austin for the United States Grand Prix, while one other facet he’s trying ahead to is continuous to go to the totally different international locations on the calendar.
“Folks have stated to me, ‘Certainly by now, you may become bored with it otherwise you’ll get a bit fed up of it’, however I can genuinely say that each weekend I am simply so excited to get again to the monitor once more,” he admits. “So I simply can’t wait to go to all of the remaining circuits and expertise what it is prefer to be there as a fan.”
By way of whether or not he’ll handle to stay underneath finances for the remainder of the problem, Burgess concedes that it’s “going to be actually tight”, whereas he acknowledges that there’s additionally a chance of needing to take some unpaid days off work alongside utilizing his annual depart.
Nonetheless, when requested if he would advocate the problem to different followers, Burgess has no hesitation in responding: “100 per cent. I ummed and ahhed for a very long time whether or not to do it, as a result of clearly it is some huge cash and it is a large dedication, nevertheless it’s actually been the very best factor I’ve ever finished.
“This 12 months has blown me away and, like I stated, I am very fortunate with sure issues taking place and selecting up a following on-line, which has helped with that. However even with out that, simply the experiences on the circuits and the folks I’ve met, it has been unbelievable. If anybody has the prospect, I’d say 100 per cent go for it. It’s been wonderful.”
Whereas he isn’t planning to repeat the feat subsequent 12 months given the finances required – although he says he would “positively” do it once more sooner or later – Burgess hopes to proceed creating content material across the sport. For now, although, his focus is on having fun with the rest of his epic 2025 problem.
“To be trustworthy, it is simply made me love reside sport and reside Formulation 1 much more, so I will positively be attending races subsequent 12 months,” he smiles. “What number of but, I do not know.
“I’ve bought some cool concepts for various movies and totally different races subsequent 12 months, however I am simply going to attempt to benefit from the remaining races as a lot as I can and soak all of it on this season, as a result of it is a bit of a as soon as in a lifetime bucket record second for me to do that.”
